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Some of the images from this year’s Halloween Hero-Fest at the Inwood Center, which served together with The Manhattan Times and The Bronx Free Press, among other community partners, as hosts of the free annual event for local schoolchildren.
Story by Alexandra Rosario and Debralee Santos
Photos by Catherine Fonseca
Princesses and fairies, ghouls and goblins swarmed the Inwood Center on West 214th Street and Broadway this past Fri, Oct. 28th.
But this wasn't the scene from a fairy tale.
This was the annual Halloween Hero-fest, co-sponsored by a host of community partners, including The Manhattan Times, The Bronx Free Press, Manhattan Mini-Storage and Edison Properties, Inwood Church and Everyday Christian Church, Health Plus New York, and the Office of Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer and New York City Councilmember Ydanis Rodriguez.
“Is it time yet?” asked one plaintive little ladybug, who wore black kohl freckles and a red antenna headband, as she peered into the glass windows just before “Hero-Fest” doors opened at 3 pm.
Hundreds of local school children donned costumes, some sporting lace-detailed dresses, and others with fangs, and came to the Inwood Center directly after school to play games, trick-or-treat, and watch the Super Sprowtz, the master puppeteers whose message on “vegu-cation,” and the power of fruits and vegetables, was well-received by attentive children and parents.
Upon entry, the children received five raffle tickets to spend on their game of choice, such as ring toss and golf. They could opt also to have a face-painting session, or to make spooky Halloween creations at the arts and crafts tables. Afterwards, they were guided along through the building for trick or treating.
On the eighth floor, The Manhattan Times and The Bronx Free Press offices were converted, to the revulsion and delight of many, into a bona-fide Gross-Out Station, where boxes containing such items as the “brains of a madman” and “swollen eyeballs” were set up. The offices also hosted the Hero-Fest’s Pop-up Photo Studio, wherein each child received his or her portrait in costume, for free.
“Last year we just had trick-or-treating upstairs on the sixth floor,” said Lindsay Travis, a member of the Everyday Christian Church. “We had such a big turnout, and we ran out of candy! This year, we were able to put something [different] together.”
“We want to serve the community,” said Raymon Fullerton, of Everyday Christian Church. “It's a great event, and a lot of other community groups are represented here.”
The building was filled to brimming with laughing kids and smiling parents, enjoying the free festivities.
“I'm a baterina!” said Angelica Blanco, a nine-year-old fifth grader. “I'm a ballerina who's a bat.”
Angelica's fun purple and black baterina costume was accented with bright fuchsia lips, which her mother, Karina Madera, applied.
“We're excited about going around the building for the whole event!” said Madera.
Anabelle and Jesibelle Rodriguez were busy at the arts and crafts table with their mother, Tania. They were so excited to get over to Hero-Fest, they didn't have time to dress up after school. When asked if they were having fun, three-year-old Jesibelle enthusiastically squealed, “Yes, yes, yes!”
Mom Evelyn waited in line for the free photography session with her two sons.
“We're having fun,” she said. “After a stressful day and week, it's a good time to relax with family.”
“I liked the apple toss!” said six-year-old Miguel Angel, dressed up as WolfMan, complete with a very scary mask.
While the children certainly received their fair share of candy from the three floors filled with businesses that were participating in trick-or-treating, there was also a strong showing of health-based organizations. Representatives from the non-profit organization Health Plus of New York, which offers affordable coverage for over 320,000 New Yorkers were present, as was Choosing Healthy and Active Lifestyles for Kids (CHALK).
Still, it was the Super Sprowtz, however, the performance group that presented a children’s video and live puppet theater show, that drew the most surprising rave reviews – from its would-be harshest critics.
“But I don’t like my vegetables,” came the cry of resistance from one young cowboy whose mother was attempting to find a seat for the show at 5 pm.
Just before the performance, Deputy Borough President Rosemonde Pierre-Louis asked the children assembled, “Who here likes their vegetables and fruits?”. She proceeded to list a few to gauge the popularity of each.
The clear favorite in this crowd? Mango.
Super Sprowtz, which endeavors to create a culture around healthy eating habits, regaled the kids and parents with a theatrical performance that was nimbly staged.
They were cheered loudly at the end.
Radha Agrawal, the Sprowtz’s director, said afterwards, “The kids were so smart and the best Sprowtz dancers we've seen so far.”
That included the recalcitrant cowboy, whose ten-gallon hat could be seen bobbing along to the music at the finale.
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